Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

Magnetic Resonance Elastography in Hydrocephalus

United States35 participantsStarted 2007-03-01

Plain-language summary

The purpose of this project is to assess the utility of a new magnetic resonance technique called magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in the non-invasive diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus. The investigators hypothesize that MRE produces a unique imaging signature for hydrocephalus that distinguishes the disease from the normal (non-hydrocephalic) but atrophied brain, a distinction not possible with conventional MR imaging studies that are presently available.

Who can participate

Age range

45 Years – 95 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age \>21; * One or more of the following complaints: memory loss/dementia, urinary incontinence, or progressive gait disturbance * Ventriculomegaly defined as temporal horn width \>2 mm or a FH:ID ratio\>30% on computed tomography or MRI, where FH is the maximal distance between the frontal horns and ID is the internal diameter from inner table to inner table of the skull at this level (Greenberg) * A diagnosis of any adult onset hydrocephalus (NPH, post-traumatic, post-hemorrhagic, obstructive, or idiopathic) will be considered for enrollment in this study Exclusion Criteria: * Implanted neuro-stimulator or cardiac pacemaker * Known coagulopathy; major organ dysfunction * End-stage congestive heart failure * Oxygen-dependent pulmonary disease, hepatic cirrhosis, or dialysis- dependent renal failure; or other condition which, according to the assessment of the treating surgeon or anesthesia team * Precludes consideration of elective surgery * Patients who may be pregnant will be excluded from this study as well

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Mean shear modulus

Timeframe: 15 Years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02230124

SponsorDartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-12-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Hydrocephalus trials